Many forms, one Lord at play
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
मनें हरिरूपीं गुंतल्या वासना । उदास या सुना गौिळयांच्या ॥1॥
यांच्या भ्रतारांचीं धरूनियां रूपें । त्यांच्या घरीं त्यांपें भोग करी ॥2॥
करी कवतुक त्याचे तयापरी । एकां दिसे हरि एकां लेंक ॥3॥
एक भाव नाहीं सकळांच्या चित्तीं । ह्मणऊनि प्रीति तैसें रूप ॥4॥
रूप याचें आहे अवघें चि एक । परि कवतुक दाखविलें ॥5॥
लेंकरूं न कळे स्थूल कीं लहान । खेळे नारायण कवतुकें ॥6॥
कवतुक केलें सोंग बहुरूप । तुका ह्मणे बाप जगाचा हा ॥7॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The gopis' desires were wholly absorbed in Hari's form, and the daughters-in-law of the cowherds were indifferent to all else. Taking the forms of their husbands, Krishna went to their homes and enjoyed with each one. He played each marvel according to its kind. To some He appeared as Hari, to others as their child. The devotion of each was different, and so was His form. His form is in reality one, yet He displayed this wonder. The child does not know large from small. Narayana plays with innocent delight. Says Tuka, what a spectacle He created: the many-formed disguise of the Father of the world.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Their minds, their desires, are caught up in Hari's form; these daughters-in-law of the cowherds are cold to all else. Taking the forms of their husbands, He goes to their homes and gives them His company there. He plays each wonder according to its kind; to some He looks like Hari, to some like their child. The same love is not in everyone's heart; so as their love is, such is the form. His form is in truth only one, yet He showed this wonder. The child does not know large from small; Narayana plays with simple delight. He made this play, this disguise of many forms. Tuka says: He is the Father of the world.
What it means
Tukaram is explaining why the one God appears in many shapes. The form a devotee sees is shaped by the love she brings: to one He is the Beloved, to another the child, because no two hearts hold the same feeling. He insists the form is in reality single; the variety is His play, His chosen disguise. The image of the child who does not know large from small points to a God who delights without calculation, giving Himself wholly into each relationship. The closing line keeps this from becoming mere whimsy: this many-faced player is the Father of the whole world, holding all those forms at once.
Krishna Leela
Poems celebrating Krishna's birth, childhood, and divine play.
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